WHEREAS, the James City Ruritan Club, located in James City County, will celebrate its 75th anniversary in November 2014; and

WHEREAS, committed to improving their community through fellowship, goodwill, and community service, 41 citizens formed the James City Ruritan Club in November 1939; and

WHEREAS, truly representative of the community at that time, the founding members of the James City Ruritan Club were merchants, farmers, insurance agents, bankers, mechanics, postal carriers, educators, and government officials, all of whom helped make James City the community it is today; and

WHEREAS, putting James City County on a prosperous path, charter members of the Club contributed to many of the housing developments in the community, and some even headed the 1969 economic development program that brought Anheuser-Busch Brewery and Busch Gardens to the area; and

WHEREAS, through generous donations of over 2,000 service hours and at least $8,000 annually, the James City Ruritan Club supports many worthwhile local organizations, including Camp Easter Seals, the Hospice of Williamsburg, Meals on Wheels, James City-Bruton Volunteer Fire Department, Eastern State Hospital, the Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce, and many others; and

WHEREAS, over the last 75 years, the James City Ruritan Club has remained a diversified representation of the area's residents and has upheld the ideals of the charter members; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the James City Ruritan Club on the occasion of its 75th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ivan "Buster" Tabb, the president of the James City Ruritan Club, as an expression of the General Assembly's respect and admiration for its many decades of committed service to the residents of James City County.